National Labor Relations Board v. Reeves Rubber Co.

153 F.2d 340, 17 L.R.R.M. (BNA) 765, 1946 U.S. App. LEXIS 2982
CourtCourt of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
DecidedJanuary 28, 1946
DocketNo. 11055
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 153 F.2d 340 (National Labor Relations Board v. Reeves Rubber Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
National Labor Relations Board v. Reeves Rubber Co., 153 F.2d 340, 17 L.R.R.M. (BNA) 765, 1946 U.S. App. LEXIS 2982 (9th Cir. 1946).

Opinion

STEPHENS, Circuit Judge.

In opposition to the National Labor Relations Board’s petition for the enforcement of its order to respondent Reeves. Rubber Company, the latter interposes three reasons why, in its view, this court should deny the petition. They are as follows:

1. The Board’s findings of fact that respondent has engaged in and is engaging in unfair labor practices in violation of § 8(1) and (3) of the National Labor Relations Act, 29 U.S.C.A. § 158(1, 3), are not supported by substantial evidence.

2. The record conclusively shows that Jacob Horn was discharged for poor workmanship and carelessness rather than because of his membership and activities in behalf of the union.

3. The Board’s order is unlawful.

We think the three points may be treated without strictly separating them.

The Board’s order is that respondent cease and desist from “(a) Discouraging membership in United Rubber Workers of America, affiliated with the Congress of In[341]*341dustrial Organizations, or in any other labor organization of its employees, by discharging or refusing to reinstate any of its employees, or in any other manner discriminating in regard to their hire or tenure of employment or any term or condition of their employment; (b) In any other manner interfering with, restraining, or coercing its employees in the exercise of their right to self-organization, to form labor organizations, to join or assist United Rubber Workers of America, affiliated with the Congress of Industrial Organizations, or any other labor organization, to bargain collectively through representatives for the purpose of collective bargaining or other mutual aid or protection, as guaranteed in Section 7 of the Act.” The affirmative requirements of the order need not be set out in full, for it is sufficient to say that they are to reinstate Jacob Horn, a discharged employee, make him whole as to pay and position, post certain notices, and notify the Regional Director as to steps taken in compliance with the order. No part of the order has been complied with.

The evidence is very conflicting as to conversations had between Jacob Horn, employee, and L. D. Snow, secretary of the employer-company, who appears to be given considerable executive authority. It is not disputed, however, that Horn did talk with Snow on three or four occasions about the .unionization of the plant.

According to Horn’s version of the conversations, Snow was very much against unionization and suggested that, instead of organizing in a union, they (employees) organize “a little club,” stating that unions (evidently referring to nationally organized unions) were composed of racketeers and that Horn should see President Reeves of the company before going to Los Angeles to enlist the aid of the union there in organizing the Reeves employees. It appears that the two went to Reeves’ office, but they did not see the President, for, after some time waiting, Mr. Reeves was reported as busy.

Horn went to Los Angeles for the purpose mentioned, and the day thereafter, January 16th, President Reeves expressed a wish to see him. Horn, Andrew Stiller, day-shift foreman, and Reeves met, and Horn gave the other two some union literature. Horn testified that Stiller said he knew about Horn’s Los Angeles visit and he was surprised; that after Horn’s union experience elsewhere, he should know better than to attempt to unionize the plant; that Reeves had moved to San Clemente to get away from unions, which were run by racketeers; that Reeves had said he would sell the plant if the unions came in; that all of such was also declared by Reeves at the meeting; that Reeves in addition declared the plant “would be run by Negroes from Los Angeles and Mexicans from San Juan Capistrano” if it were unionized; that respondent would have no choice in the selection of its employees; and that if the employees -would set up a grievance committee of their own, he (Reeves) would be glad to interview anybody in his office at any time.

There is other evidence along the same line relevant to the affirmative opposition of respondent of the unionization of the employees.

Horn testified that on January 30th, conditions in the plant having gone from bad to worse, he solicited and obtained from employees twenty-one applications to join the union. Thereafter, he continued to solicit and receive applications. On February 1st Snow criticized Horn and, among other things, said he “couldn’t understand why [Horn] wanted to bring the union in to tell Doc Reeves [President Reeves] how to run his business.” On February 2nd Horn was discharged.

There is testimony that President Reeves continued thereafter to discourage the unionization of the plant in much the same manner as has already been set out. There is testimony on behalf of respondent, denying much of the testimony above set out and giving a very different trend to the conversations of Snow, Stiller and Reeves.

On the day of his discharge, Horn testified, Stiller accused him of failing to put sulphur in a batch of rubber stock and of failing to mill any kidney coupling stock the previous night; that Stiller informed him that President Reeves had ordered his discharge because of unsatisfactory work, drinking on the job, and fraternizing with women.

There is testimony which throws doubt upon the charge that Horn was responsible for the oversight in the work above mentioned; that the drinking on the job consisted of opening a bottle of beer on two occasions; and that Horn and Stiller had come to the plant on one, occasion after having been drinking at a party in Horn’s home. There is also testimony as to Flora’s good workmanship. [342]*342In respondent’s brief, there are several significant expressions. One is that “Mr. Snow’s testimony as to what was said in the conversation [while Snow and Horn were waiting in Reeves’, office] appears to be more logical”; another is that “Mr. Snow denied making the statements to Horn that he was against unions; that the employees should form their own club; that unions were racketeers; and that he would have to use his position'to fight any proposed union”; and again, that “The question now arises, which evidence is more probable and creditable?” Here is a direct appeal to us to weigh the evidence.

We quote the last paragraph of respondent’s argument: “Had the Board seen fit to weigh and consider the evidence in this case as a whole, and given proper weight to all the testimony instead of emphasizing the Board’s testimony and minimizing and discrediting the Respondent’s evidence, justice would have impelled it to have reached a different conclusion in this case.” It may be seen that the quoted paragraph is to the effect that if the Labor Board had taken the “overall view” or had weighed and considered the evidence, as a whole, and had given proper weight to all the testimony, a different conclusion would have been reached. It is perfectly reasonable that respondent, believing in the righteousness of his case, should hold to such view, and it would be an important and a legitimate argument to us if we possessed the jurisdiction to review the whole case with the purpose in mind of determining whether or not substantial justice has been decreed by the Board’s order. We can do no better in treating this phase of the case than to reaffirm our expressions in National Labor Relations Board v. Walt Disney Productions, 9 Cir., 1945, 146 F.2d 44

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Bluebook (online)
153 F.2d 340, 17 L.R.R.M. (BNA) 765, 1946 U.S. App. LEXIS 2982, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/national-labor-relations-board-v-reeves-rubber-co-ca9-1946.